Best Wineries to visit in Napa Valley, wine tourism in California

If you are passionate about wine tourism, in you tourist trip to San Francisco You have an obligatory appointment in the so-called Wine Country (Wine Country).

Indeed, just over an hour northwest of San Francisco you have the Napa and Sonoma Valleys, which have the reputation of producing the best California wines.

California wine production extends for more than 1.100 kilometers, reaching to the south to other areas also with a good wine reputation, such as Santa Ynez Valley.

But the so-called Wine Country, where the almost parallel valleys of Napa and Sonoma, concentrate the most prestigious Californian wine brands.

In the case of Napa Valley, the tourist attraction is exclusively in visiting a winery to taste its famous wines.

In recent times, after the recent fashion of wine tourism in California, Napa Valley receives 4,5 million visitors each year.

Curiosities history of Napa Valley wines

The origin of wine production in the California Napa Valley It dates back to the mid-19th century, when the first wine plantations were established.

At the end of the century there were already 140 wineries.

In the first decades of the 20th century, phylloxera, Dry Law and Great Depression, caused the closure of many wineries in Napa Valley, which in practice meant a recession in wine production.

But starting in the 60s of the last century, after the introduction of new wine production techniques, it increased significantly and new wineries emerged again.

The great accolade for him California wine occurred in 1976, when some wines with grape varieties from Chardonnay y Cabernet Sauvignon were awarded in a International Fair in Paris, surpassing the prestigious French wines.

Excursion from San Francisco to Napa and Sonoma

Today, In the Napa Valley there are 450 wineries that produce wines from numerous varieties of grapes.

From San Francisco Are organized tours with guide in Spanish to visit some of its most prestigious wineries, like this one excursion to Napa and Sonoma which lasts 7 hours.

Best wineries to visit in Napa Valley

Now, if you want to go on your own in a rented car, this will be very useful for you. interactive map of Napa Valley face to look for wineries to taste Californian wines.

On this page you can search for wineries according to their locations, and also other attractions, shops, etc...

In winery listings, you have basic information about each of them for your visit and the link that will take you to the official websites, where you have extensive information about them.